Press Releases

CAIR-Florida Condemns Trump's Termination of DACA Program as 'Pandering to Anti-Immigrant Extremists'

(MIAMI FL, 9/6/17) The Council on American-Islamic Relations - Florida (CAIR - Florida), the state's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, today condemned President Trump's termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program as "pandering to the demands of anti-immigrant extremists."

DACA is the Obama-era federal administrative relief from deportation policy that protects the rights of some 800,000 undocumented young people, commonly referred to as "Dreamers," brought to the United States as children.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced in a press conference this morning that the DACA program is "being rescinded." Sessions said the Department of Homeland Security would begin a "wind down" of DACA.

"These dreamers are our neighbors, tax payers, our students, our contributors to our economy- they are our TRUE allegiance to this country. We will stand up. We will fight back. We will #DefendDACA and we will #SaveTPS" said CAIR-Florida Orlando Regional Director Rasha Mubarak.

In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:

"The American Muslim community and CAIR stand with the 800,000 undocumented young people who were brought to our nation as children, who call the United States home and whose only dream is to come out of the shadows and to stay where they belong.

"By terminating DACA, even with a six-month delay or 'wind down,' President Trump is pandering to the demands of anti-immigrant extremists and harming our nation by targeting some of the most dynamic and success-oriented members of society. In practical terms, the 'delay' in implementing the termination is meaningless for the vast majority of Dreamers and will inevitably result in chaos in their lives.

"These young Dreamers deserve the chance to work and study -- and to be protected from deportation -- while Congress debates broader legislation to fix our broken immigration system.

"President Trump's heartless action will only serve to create fear and anxiety for the Dreamers and their loved ones, and will force them back to living in the shadows, rendering them unable contribute to our nation's economy.

"CAIR encourages state and local officials across the nation to enact policies prohibiting discrimination based on citizenship status and to offer sanctuary and support for Dreamers.

"American Muslims will continue to push for measures that protect undocumented youth and support comprehensive immigration reform - reform that includes a roadmap to citizenship for the nation's 11 million undocumented residents."

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.